For sixteen-year-old Badi Hessamizadeh, existence is a series of humiliations. After withdrawing from general public school under mysterious conditions, Badi enters Magnificat Academy. To create things “much easier,”

his dad has even given him a fresh name: Bud Hess. Grappling with his Iranian-American identification, clinical depression, bullying, and a hardly bottled rage, Bud is an outcast who copes by resorting to small revenges

and covert acts of defiance, however the stresses of his house life, plummeting marks, about Permanent Record as well as the unrequited affection of his brand-new friend, Nikki, leading him for a more dangerous revolution. Unusual letters to the editor start to surface in Magnificat’s newspapers, hinting that some tragedy will befall the institution. Suspicion falls on Bud, and he and Nikki struggle to uncover the true culprit and clear Bud’s name. Long term Record explodes with dark humor, emotional depth, and a powerful go through the methods the bullied fight.

PRAISE FOR Permanent Record

“Adult fiction writer Stella’s 1st YA novel smartly tackles cultural and public prejudice while introducing a remarkably strong underdog.” -Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Terrific… An attractive portrait of adolescent angst and rebellion.” -Simple Dealer

“A poignant and compelling story of a unique high school outcast, told within a searing and memorable tone of voice.” -David Klass, author of You Don’t Understand Me

“Smart, funny, and psychologically complex. Leslie Stella is definitely a brilliant article writer, and her debut as a writer-for-teens can be a dazzling achievement.” -Julianna Baggott, writer of Pure